Move · Videos · Dance · 21 min

Learn Rumba: Ten Beginner Steps and a Routine

Learn Rumba: Ten Beginner Steps and a Routine — video by Dance Insanity Play · 20:35

Video by Dance Insanity on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Tytus Bergstrom and LiWen Ang of Dance Insanity teach ten beginner international rumba steps, from the basic and cucaracha to the New Yorker, Aida and natural top, with leader and follower footwork, then join them in a routine with counts and to music. Dance your part alone or with a partner.

  • 21 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment
  • Latin

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 10

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Rumba basic: rock forward, replace, side; then rock back, replace, side. 1:36
  2. Cucaracha: side, replace, close to each side, bringing the ankles together. 2:26
  3. Side step: side, close, side each way, holding count 1 and stepping on 2. 3:18
  4. Underarm turn from half a basic: the follower swivels under the raised hand. 4:11
  5. New Yorker: a quarter turn to rock forward, replace and side, then the other way. 7:05
  6. Hand to hand: turn to rock back, replace and side; the Aida then adds three walks back. 8:54
  7. Cuban rock: keep the feet planted and rock the hips, side, replace, replace. 11:51
  8. Natural top from half a basic, turning right on the spot, then opening outs to each side. 13:17
  9. Put all ten steps together into a routine, with the counts. 15:54
  10. Dance the whole routine to rumba music. 17:32

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Leaders start on the left foot and followers on the right
  • Hold count 1 and take the first step on 2: rumba is danced 2, 3, 4-1
  • Bring the ankles together each time you close the feet

What it works

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Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Hips movesCuban rock hip action, rock steps
  • Knees movesrock steps, swivels, pivots and turns
  • Ankles & feet movesrocks, closes and turning steps

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Dance Insanity; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety